Railway switch controlling apparatus



May 17, 1932.

G. BAUMGARTNER RAILWAY SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1931 INVENTOR.

G. Baumi7artnar,

M1 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 17, 1932 UNITED STATES A E'r GODFREY BA'UMGARTNER, F ASTORIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA RAILWAY SWITCH CONTROLLING APPARATUS Application filed July 9, 1931;. Serial No. 549,697.

My invention relates to railway switch controlling apparatus, and particularly to the indication mechanism commonly provided in apparatus of that character for governing the movements of the switch controlling lever.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying by invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

" The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. I

Referring to the drawing, the reference character G designates a railway switch having the usual normal and reverse positions.

"is be moved to its normal position, whereas,

when the reverse and lock magnets are energized, the switch will be moved to its reverse position.

The switch mechanism H is controlled by a manually operable lever L having a normal position N, a reverse position R, a normal indicating position B, and a reverse indicating position D. This lever is provided with the usual normal indication device NM, compris- 33 ing a segment 4: attached to the lever, and coactingwith a dog 3 which is governed by an armature 5 of a magnet 11. This device is so arranged that when the lever L is moving from its reverse toward its normal position, to the dog 3 will prevent the lever from moving beyond its D position unless the magnet 11 is energized to lift the dog out of the path of the shoulder on the segment 4. It is also so arranged that when the lever is in its'normal 4.? position it cannot be moved toward its reverse position unless the magnet is energized to lift the dog out of the path of the shoulder on the segment. Also associated with the lever L is a reverse indication device RM, which operates when the lever is being moved from the normal to the reverse position to prevent movement beyond the B position'unless and until magnet 11 is energized. The reverse indication device further functions to lock the lever in its reverse position until magnet 11 is energized.

The indication magnets 11 are controlled 'ointly by a polarized indication relay P and y contacts operated by the lever L.

Relay P is supplied with current from a suitable source, the terminals of which are designated X and Y, and the circuit for this relay includes two wires 1 and 2, as well as a pole-changer A operated by the switch G. The parts of this circuit are so arranged that when the switch G is in its normal position, wire 1 is connected with the'positive terminal X of the source, and relay P is then energized in its normal direction; whereas, when the switch G is in its reverse position wire 2 is connected with positive terminal X and relay P is then energized in its reverse direction.

Magnet 11 of the normal indication device NM is provided with a circuit which passes from terminal X, through pole-changer A, wire 1, lever operated contact NBl, front neutral contact 7 of relay P, polar contact 9 of this relay in normal position, lever operated contact RB, and magnet 11 to terminal Y. Magnet 11 of indication device RM is provided with a circuit which passes from terminal X through pole-changer A in the reverse position, wire 2, lever contact RDl, front contact 7 of relay P, polar contact 9 in its reverse position, lever contact ND, and magnet 11 to terminal Y.

The magnet 11 of the normal indication device NM is also provided with a circuit which passes from terminal X, through a latch contact 6 on lever L, lever contact N1, and magnet 11 to terminal Y. The magnet 11 of the reverse indication device RM is provided with a similar circuit which includes lever contact R1 and latch contact 6.

The normal magnet N2 of switch mechanism H is provided with a circuit which includes lever contact N138, whereas the reverse magnet R2 is provided with a circuit which includes lever contact BB3.

The lock magnet Q, is provided with a first circuit which passes from terminal X, through lever contact RD2, contact 10 of relay P in the normal position, and the lock magnet Q to terminal Y. The lock magnet is provided with a second circuit which includes lever contact N132 and polar contact 10 in the reverse position. The lock magnet is provided with a third circuit which includes back neutral contact 8 of relay P.

It is understood that each lever operated contact is closed through that portion of the stroke of the lever which is indicated by the reference character applied to the contact. Contact ND, for example, is closed from the normal to the reverse indicating position, contact RB is closed from the reverse to the normal indicating position, contact NB is closed from the normal to the normal. indicating position, etc.

As shown in the drawing, the switch G is in its normal position and all the other parts of the apparatus are in the positions corre sponding to this position of the switch. Relay P is energized in the normal direction, but the magnets 11 of the indicating devices are both deenergized.

If the operator desires to reverse the switch G, he will move the lever L to the reverse indicating position D, having first released the lever from the normal position N by closing the latch contact 6. With lever L in the D position, magnet N2 will be deenergized and magnet R2 will be energized. Lock magnet Q will also be energized, because its first circuit will be closed at lever cont-act RD2 and polar contact 10 in the normal position. Mechanism H will then operate the switch G to its reverse position, and this in turn will reverse the position of pole-changer A. Current of reverse polarity will then be supplied to the relay P, so that the polar contacts 9 and 10 of this relay will swing to their reverse positions. Magnet 11 of the reverse indicating device RM will then be energized because its circuit will be closed at lever contacts ND and RDl, as well as at contact 9 in the reverse position; and the terminals of this magnet will then be connected to the two terminals X and Y of the source of current, because wire 2 will be connected with terminal X. The reverse indicating device RM will then be actuated to release the lever so that the operator may complete the movement of the lever to its reverse position R.

In order to restore the switch to its normal position, the operator will first release the lever L by closing latch contact 6, and will then move the lever to its normal indicating position B. This will result in deenergizing .magnet R2 and energizing magnets N2 and Q, so that the switch will be returned to its normal position, thereby restoring polechanger A to its normal position. The normal indicating device NM will then be operated, because the circuit for magnet 11 of this device will be closed and the two terminals of the magnet will be connected with terminals X and Y. The lever may then be moved to its full normal position.

I will now assume that the switch has been moved to its reverse position, but that the polar contacts 9 and 10 of relay P do not respond to the reversal of pole-changer A. Magnet 11 of the reverse indicating device PM will remain deenergized, because its circuit will be open at polar contact 9, and so the lever can not be moved beyond its reverse indicating position D. The lever can, however, be restored to its normal indicating position B, but if the switch does not then return to its normal position, magnet 11 of the normal indicating device NM will not become energized. The reason for this is that both terminals of this magnet will be connected with terminal Y of the source of current. The path from the right-hand terminal of this magnet 11 will be through lever contact RB, polar contact 9 in the normal position, front neutral contact 7, lever contact N131, wire 1, and the lower arm of polechanger A to terminal Y. It follows that lever L can not be returned to its full normal position N, and so it is impossible under these circumstances to have the lever L and the switch G in non-harmonizing positions. I will now assume that the switch and lever are both shifted from their reverse positions to their normal positions, that the polar contacts 9 and 10 of relay P fail to return to their normal positions, and that the lever L is again placed in reverse indicating position D; if the switch G fails to return to its reverse position, both terminals of magnet 11 of device RM will be connected with terminal Y of the source and so the lever can not be released from its reverse indicating position. Under these circumstances, the right-hand terminal of magnet 11 will be connected with terminal Y, through lever contact ND, polar contact 9 in its reverse position, front neutral contact 7 lever contact RDl, wire 2, and the lower arm of pole-changer A to terminal' Y.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a switch indication can be received to release lever L if and only if the polar contacts of relay P harmonize with the position of the switch G, and it will also be seen that this result is accomplished by having the energy which actuates the indication magnets originate at the switch operated pole-changer A.

Furthermore, assuming that lever L and switch G are both in their normal positions, that the lever L is moved to its reverse indicating position, that the switch responds, but that the polar contacts of relay P do not respond to the reversal of pole-changer A, then if the lever L is returned to its normal indicating position B, the lock magnet Q can not be energized, because its second circuit will be open at polar contact 10 of relay P. Similarly, starting with the switch and lever in reverse positions, if the lever is moved to its normal indicating position B and the switch responds, but the polar relay P does not respond to the operation of pole-changer A, then upon returning the lever L to the reverse indicating position D, magnet Q, can not be energized, because its first circuit will be open at polar contact 10 of relay P.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway switch having normal and reverse positions, a control lever for said switch having normal and re verse positions N and R as well as a normal indicating position B and a reverse indicating position D, locking means for said lever including normal. and reverse indication magnets, a polarized indication relay, a circuit for said relay including two wires 1 and 2 and a source of current said circuit being so arranged that the relay is energized in normal or reverse direction according as wire 1 or wire 2 is connected with the positive terminal of the source, means operated by said switch for connecting said source with said wires in such manner that wire 1 or wire 2 is positive according as the switch is in normal or reverse position, means for connecting one terminal of said normal magnet with wire 1 through an RB and an NB contact on said lever as well as a normal polar contact on said relay, means for connecting one terminal of said reverse magnet with wire 2 through an ND and an RD contact on said lever as well as a reverse polar contact of said relay, and

- means for connecting the remaining terminal of each magnet with the negative terminal of said source.

2. In combination, a railway switch having normal and reverse positions, a control lever for said switch having normal and reverse positions N and R as well as normal indicating position B and a reverse indicating position D, locking means for said lever including normal and reverse indication magnets, a polarized indication relay,

a circuit for said relay including two wires 1 and 2 and a source of current, said circuit being so arranged that the relay is energized in normal or reverse direction according as wire 1 or wire 2 is connected with the positive terminal of the source, means operated by said switch for connecting said source with said wires in such manner that wire 1 or wire 2 is positive according as the switch is in normal or reverse position, means for connecting one terminal of said normal magnet with wire 1 through an RB and an NB contact on said lever as well as a normal polar contact on said relay, means for connecting one terminal of said reverse magnet with Wire 2 through an ND and an RD contact on said lever as well as a re verse polar contact of said relay, means for connecting the remaining terminal of each magnet with the negative terminal of said source, a lock magnet associated with said switch, a first circuit for said lock magnet including a normal polar contact of said relay and an RD contact on said lever, a second circuit for said lock magnet including a reverse polar contact of said relay and an NB contact on said lever, and a third circuit for said lock magnet including a neutral back contact of said relay.

3. In combination, a railway switch having normal and reverse positions, a control lever for said switch, locking means for said lever including normal and reverse indication magnet, a polarized indication relay provided with a circuit including two wires 1 and 2 and a source of current and so arranged that the relay is energized in normal or reverse direction according as wire 1 or wire 2 is conneced with the positive terminal of the source, means operated by said switch for connecting said source with said wires in such manner that wire 1 or wire 2 is positive according as the switch is in normal or reverse position, means for connecting one terminal of said normal magnet with wire 1 through a normal polar contact of said relay and contacts operated by said lever, means for connecting one terminal of said reverse magnet with wire 2 through a reverse polar contact of said relay and contacts operated by said lever, and means for con necting the remaining terminal of each magnet with the negative terminal of said source.

4. In combination, a railway switch having normal and reverse positions, a control lever for said switch, locking means for said 7 lever including normal and reverse indication magnets, a polarized indication relay, a circuit for said relay including two wires and a source of current as well as a polechanger operated by said switch, a circuit for said normal magnet including said source and one of said wires as well as a normal polar contact of said relay, and a circuit for said reverse magnet including said source and the other of said wires as well as a reverse polar contact of said relay.

5. In combination, a railway switch having normal and reverse positions, a control. lever for said switch, locking means for said lever and eleotromagnets for releasing said locking means, a polarized indication relay, a circuit for said relay including two wires and a pole-changer operated by said switch as Well as a source of current located at the switch, and circuits for said electromagnets controlled by said relay and including said source and said wires.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

GODFREY BAUMGARTNER. 

